Question

    Unlike China, where the majority of society belongs to the Han ethnic group, the United States is home to people from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, creating great diversity within its lively society.

However, historical events that created this diversity also led to racial disputes and prejudice that have lasted until today. Around days like Martin Luther King Day, people in the US are especially sensitive to racist comments and behavior.

Recently, a Facebook message posted by a white student at my boarding school started a wave of anger among African American students and started heated conversations about minority groups at the school.

The students posted an article written by someone else who stated that Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general during the US Civil War, should be commemorated(纪念). As the Confederates broke from the Union in order to keep slavery in their states, they were usually seen as racists. The post received a flood of comments from both white and black students within minutes, and conversation about the topic spread across campus quickly.

A fishbowl conversation was organized the evening the article was posted, and students and faculty (学院) members talked about their feelings and opinions. During the discussion, students from minority groups, including African American, Jewish, Asian and Indian students, spoke up about how they felt about living in a society mainly made up of people who are different from them. It turned out that many people felt isolated because of their differences from other people.

The diversity of society can open up interesting opportunities, but the great differences between people can also create huge gaps and misunderstandings if they are not treated carefully. Thus, effective communication is essential.

After the fishbowl conversation, the atmosphere in the school seemed to be changing, at least from my point of view. Students seemed to be talking and acting more freely than before, and the expressions of judgement were seen less on their faces.

1.The main purpose of Paragraph 1 is to ______.

A.draw attention to the fact that racial problems still exist in America.

B.show that the United States has a wonderfully diverse culture.

C.explain how sensitive people in the US are to racist comments and behavior.

D.point out the differences between American culture and those of other countries.

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE? ______.

A.The post was offensive to black students.

B.The post was aimed at African American students.

C.The author of he post was strongly in favor of slavery.

D.The author of the post held a negative attitude toward minority groups.

3.According to the article, the fishbowl conversation was held mainly to ______.

A.figure out whether the article should be posted or not.

B.educate students on how to express their opinions appropriately.

C.improve the lives of people who belongs to minority groups on campus.

D.get people to communicate how they felt and thought about the post.

4.What did the author learn from the incident? ______.

A.We should learn to live with others’ differences.

B.We should always feel free to share our feelings.

C.Effective communication is very important in a diverse society.

D.If there is no difference, then there is no misunderstanding.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了由于网上一篇文章引发的关于种族歧视的讨论的故事。

1.推理判断题。通过第一段的内容Unlike China, where the majority of society belongs to the Han ethnic group, the United States is home to people from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, creating great diversity within its lively society.可知，美国是由来自各种不同民族和文化背景的人组成的国家，是多元化的社会。所以判断出，第一段的目的是表明美国有着惊人的多元文化。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第四段中The students posted an article written by someone else who stated that Robert E. Lee, a Confederate general during the US Civil War, should be commemorated(纪念). As the Confederates broke from the Union in order to keep slavery in their states, they were usually seen as racists可知，这篇文章纪念了一位美国内战时期的将军，这位将军欲保持奴隶制，他是种族歧视者。故这篇文章冒犯了黑人学生。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第五段中A fishbowl conversation was organized the evening the article was posted, and students and faculty (学院) members talked about their feelings and opinions.可知，文章发表的当晚，组织了一次鱼缸式的谈话，学生和教职员工谈论他们的感受和观点。所以根据这篇文章，鱼缸式的对话主要是为了让人们交流他们对这篇文章的感受和想法。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据第七段中Students seemed to be talking and acting more freely than before, and the expressions of judgment were seen less on their faces.可知，学生们的言谈举止似乎比以前更自由了，脸上也少了一些评判的表情。通过这次谈话，学生之间的谈话和举止变得更自如了。故判断出有效的沟通在多元化的社会中是非常有效的。故选C。